CHARGE REDUCED

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 9

CHARGE REDUCED

STABBING INCIDENT. KNIFE WOUND IN ARM. YOUNG MAN DEALT WITH. Held in custody since his arrest on the night of February <J. Francis .John Hhind, aged 20, labourer, appeared in the Police Court this morning on a charge of assaulting Dennis Anthony Davey so as to cause actual bodily harm, and alternatively with assaulting Davey. On the application of DetectiveSergeant. McHugh. who prosecuted, the police offered no evidence oil this charge, ! and it was dkuiiiri*ed. To the charge of I common assault Rhind pleaded guilty. | Detective-Sergeant McHugh said Rhind and bis mother went to a party in West Street, Newton, on the night of February 0. Hhind was very much under the influence of liquor, and he was requested to leave. He did so. Rhind did not ljve with his mother, but he went to her home shortly after she arrived there. He was in a quarrelsome mood, and his mother went out to the street to awe it the arrival of her daughter. She arrived in com|»ariy with the complainant, Davey, and the three stood talking on the footpath. Rhind, who was sitting in the gateway, went over to Davey and swept his hat off. "Davey," said Mr. McHugh, "lifted his arms to defend himself and felt a stab in one arm. He sustained a cut about three inches in length which was made with a pocket knife. He went to a doctor, who had to insert three stitches in the wound. The accused did everything possible for Davey and accompanied him to the hospital. Rhind explained that he was sitting paring his finger nails and thought he heard tbe others talking about him. He says he had no intention of injuring Davey. It is quite possible that what he says is true. He has been in trouble previously. Drink appears to be at the bottom of it on each occasion." Mr. A. Winter, who appeared for Rhind, pointed out that the previous trouble referred to must have been of a trivial nature, as Rhind had only been fined. It was quite true that liquor was the trouble. "Rhind has been in custody over a week and this has had a very marked effect upon him," counsel added. "He had no intention of injuring Davey and no serious injury befel complainant." Remarking that his record showed that his offences in the past had been brought about bv his fondness for liquor, Mr. V. R. Orr Walker. S.M., stated that the present case was not as serious as was at first thought. "I will take into consideration that he has been in custody and order him to come up for sentence if called upon within six months, and to pay the hospital expenses incurred, 6/(1.